The Lesson of Matthew 8:5-11

Two Sundays ago, a friend of mine told me that while their church community (A Catholic parish) in Lagos was having their Christ the King procession, some members of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement saw them and then followed them from a distance, dishing out prayers of casting and binding, and also invoking the famous prayer in Nigeria, “Holy Ghost Fire” on them as well. For those “Lord’s Chosen” members, those Catholics are either pagans or possessed and therefore needed some cast and bind prayers. After laughing about it, I said to my friend, “Forgive them because they don’t know what they were doing. Christianity, the very religious faith that brought freedom and deliverance to many across the world, that set many people free from bondage, that spread education and encouraged many to be educated, has been used to enslave so many people in Nigeria. Forgive them because ignorance, which many of them are suffering from, is a very serious disease.” 

The Gospel of Matthew 8:5-11 is the story of a man, a centurion, a foreigner, a pagan, someone considered impure by many at that time, who approached Jesus and pleaded on behalf of his sick servant, “Sir, my servant is lying at home paralyzed and in great pain.” Turning to him, Jesus said, “I will come myself and cure him.” But demonstrating an uncommon humility and a rock solid faith that Jesus had not seen, he said to Jesus, “Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; (that’s a rare humility) just say the word and my servant will be cured” (that’s an amazing faith). Expressing his pleasant surprise, Jesus declared, “I tell you solemnly, not even in Israel have I found faith as great as this.” With that, Jesus proclaimed healing over the centurion’s servant, “Go home, and let it be done for you, as your faith demands.” 

In many Christian communities today, this centurion will be discriminated and will not be welcomed. If he shows up in the assembly, some Christians today will look at him with disgust. They will unleash “Holy Ghost fire” prayer on him. They will shout, “Back to sender” prayer on him. The man’s faith will not  be immediately recognized. Many will see him as not being the right kind of person to be around them. Some will say, “The devil has come to church.” And rather than welcome him, they will start snapping their fingers, shaking their heads, and stamping their feet as they cast and bind a child of God that has come to seek for help. Some Christians think that only a Christian who is wearing the “born again” tag has authentic faith, is worthy of their attention and worthy of salvation. They see those outside their faith-community as unbelievers. But Jesus was very impressed with this “pagan” centurion. He admired his faith.

As we begin the season of Advent, Jesus asks us to open up our hearts afresh, to receive and cherish the faith of others— even if they are not part of our worshipping community. Value the faith of others, whatever shape it takes, even if that faith is being manifested by those outside our Christian assembly. Keep this in mind: what unites us into a saved community is faith. What brings us together into one saved community is not race, or tribe, or language, or human contacts, but faith—faith in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 4:5 says, “There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Therefore, stop judging the faith of others! Stop ridiculing the expression of faith of others. Leave judgment to God. He alone knows! He alone is the ultimate Decider and Judge!

--By Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR